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VOL. 11. NO.097
Ogbeni’s Commendable Move On Cocoa Production Not given to wasting time on making moves that will accelerate development and have quick positive impact on the people, it would appear that Ogbeni Aregbesola is
the first, yet again, to swiftly respond to the call for the diversification of the economy which our present economic crisis demands. In his characteris-
tic self - of quickly looking for solution in the face of crisis - the visionary Ogbeni wasted no time in resuscitating the moribund Cocoa Production Industry
(CPI) in Ede, state of Osun, with a view to making Osun hub of cocoa production in the country. This is a commendable step. At this critical stage of our history as a
nation the solution to resuscitating our economic crisis brought about by the gross mismanagement of the proceeds from our monolithic economic mainstay (oil) by those
on whose hands providence had placed the destiny of this country, lies in diversification of the economy; with emphasis on agriculture. -Continued on Page 4
LAUTECH Crisis: NAOSS Petitions IGP, Ajimobi Over Osun Indigenes’ Safety - Pg 3
Teachers’ Welfare, Our Priority - Aregbesola - See Story On Page 2
•State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), discussing with some of the site workers during his inspectation of some of the bridges of the ongoing construction of Osogbo East-Bypass Dual Carriage Road recently.
Osun Congratulates Ife Indigenes On 2016 Olojo Festival
- Pg 2
NEWS
OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
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Teachers' Welfare, Our Priority - Aregbesola
G
OVERNMENT of the State of Osun has Labour Congress would continue to saying teachers said that it will continue to improve (NLC) in the state, Mr support government in remained the bedrock welfare of teachers and enhance their Jacob Adekomi, said its quest to reposition for educational capacity for overall development of education teachers in the state the state for economic advancement of the in the state. He maintained that were seriously affected buoyancy. state. The state helmsman, teachers, as agent of by In his welcome the current He therefore, called O g b e n i R a u f socialization, must be economic recession, address, the Chairman on the government to Aregbesola, who stated given top priority for hence the need for the of Nigeria Union of always pay grants to this at the World government to attain its government to design Teachers (NUT) in the Teachers’ Day goals in the education special welfare package State of Osun, Mr schools for day-to-day running of schools in Celebration in Osogbo, sector. wakili Amuda, the state, as well as for them. said, teachers were key On his part, the Adekomi said, demanded for special payment of rural to educational Chairman of Nigeria workers in the state package for teachers, allowances for teachers advancement of the state. Aregbesola, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) overpowered and nabbed informed the court that By OLAJIDE OLORUNSOGO Grace Titilayo Tomori, by the man. Segun was an ex-convict 22-year-old man, Oladosu Segun, has been noted that his According to and had been to prison sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by a administration was Olayiwola, the offences for committing a similar magistrate’s court sitting in Osogbo, the State committed were contrary offence. committed to welfare of teachers, attributing of Osun capital, for burglary and stealing money and to and punishable under The convict, who had the current challenge property valued at N111, 500. Section 390 (9) of the no lawyer representing The property belonging convict subsequently Criminal Code Cap 34 him, pleaded guilty to the facing teachers to to three different people brought out two different Volume 11, laws of Osun charges and pleaded the economic recession. He hinted that his were said to have been charms and a knife to State 2003. court to temper justice The prosecutor also with mercy. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n stolen by the convict at fight Ajadi, but he was understands the plight Abijah Street, Atelewo of teachers, hence, the area; Balogun area and need for his Irerinde Street, all in government to devise Osogbo. means of paying their Segun was accused of salaries, based on the stealing drinks, two DVD available revenue players, three tubers of accruing to the state. HE Government of the State of Osun, Saturday 8th and yam, five litres of Aregbesola promised vegetable oil, two litres of under the auspices of Ogbeni Rauf Monday 17th, October that his administration palm oil, one pair of jean Aregbesola, has congratulated the Ooni of 2016. would continue to trousers, three iron rods, Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) In a statement by the build capacity of the one telephone handset and the entire people of Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Coordinating Director, teachers through Ministry of and N10,000, all valued Yoruba race, on the Ooni’s first Olojo Festival training and retraining, with a view to at N111,500, property of since he ascended the throne of his fore-fathers. Information, Home hold between Affairs, Tourism and The festival is billed to enhancing their Ayibode Taiwo, Tawa Alabi and Rasaq Mutiyat. performance. The convict was also He assured the teachers that said to have also sneaked government would into the street at about 4.00 continue the payment am on September 19, with of grants, as well as some weapons like rural allowances as cutlasses and carpentry economy of the state bar and used same to improves. break into the In a goodwill complainants’ shops. message, the State Police prosecutor, Head of Service, Mr Sergeant Rasaq Olayinka Owoeye, Olayiwola, informed the urged teachers in the court that after the state employ to property have been carted rededicate themselves away, the convict was to duty, saying caught and challenged by government was ready to reward any serious- one Mr Ajadi Kazeem at •A scene of an accident at Abule-Ado Bus Stop along Badagry Expressway, Lagos on minded working Abijah area. He recounted that the Monday. teacher.
posted to rural areas and periodic training for teachers for capacity building. The Osun NUT chairman also charged the government to look inward and ensure full implementation of their salaries, saying the current half-salary could no longer meet the needs of teachers.
Man Jailed 6 Years For Stealing, Burglary A The magistrate, Mrs A.A Olowolagba, then sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for each of the two-count charges, upon which he was arraigned. Olowolagba ruled that the terms of the sentence should run concurrently.
Osun Congratulates Ife Indigenes On 2016 Olojo Festival
T
Osun Speaker Tasks Parents To Encourage Wards In Seeking Knowledge S
By KAZEEM MOHAMMED PEAKER of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, has enjoined parents to encourage their wards in their quest towards acquiring both quranic and western knowledge. This was just as he Ejigboland, being the charged youths to focus leaders of tomorrow, the on seeking knowledge younger ones need the and build confidence in support and care of their themselves to make them parents and guardians to excel in life. prepare them for future Salaam, who challenges. represents Ejigbo State He said in whatever Constituency, spoke in ways, the youths should Ejigbo on Sunday at the be encouraged to engage 1438 Hijra Quran in competition, with a Competition sponsored view to giving them more by him and coordinated confidence in both public by the Ejigbo Muslim and private places. Youths Forum, with 35 The Speaker, who Quranic institutions promised to continue to participating. create platform that According to the would contribute to the Speaker, who is also the learning capacity of Asiwaju Adinni of youths, said, the
competition would be made a yearly event. Stressing that he had organised a similar Bible Competition for Christian youths, he said, this was aimed at balancing the religions equation of his constituents. Salaam then dedicated his sponsorship of the competition to the late Alhaji Ganiyu Adejumo, whom, he described as his confidant before his death. The Chief Imam of Ejigboland, Sheik Suleiman Omotokese, commended Salaam for the sponsorship of such an educative programme that would broaden the knowledge of participants. He urged the participants and other
youths to use the event as an opportunity for them to seek more knowledge in every sphere of life. Also the Deputy Leader of the Muslim Youths Forum, Ustaz Sherifdeen Ojekale, lauded the sponsor for the event, describing him as a responsible human being, who is committed to the course of his people. At the end of the competition, Abdulahiibn-Moshood Quranic Institution emerged the
Change Of Name I, formerly known as ADEGBOYEGA ELIZABETH OPEYEMI, now wish to be called and addressed as ADEGBOYEGA O P E O L U W A ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
overall winner, Maadu-lAlli Quranic Institution emerged second and Al-Furuni Quranic Institution emerged third.
Change Of Name
I, formerly known as ADEBISI AISHAT ABIDEMI, now wish to be called and addressed as ADEJARE AISHAT ADEBISI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
PUBLIC NOTICE This is to inform members of the public that OYEWOLE EKUNDAYO ALAO, is the same person as OYEWOLE EKUNDAYO ADEREMI. All former documents remain valid. Sky Bank, FIRST Bank and general public should take note.
Culture, Mrs Femi Webster-Esho, the governor enjoined the people to be lawabiding while the celebration lasts. The governor also prayed for God’s guidance during and after the celebrations. In the same vein, the State Government of Osun has also congratulated the Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola (Laminisa 1) and the entire people of Edeland on the celebrations of this year’s Sango Festival, which takes place on Monday 10th, October 2016. The governor through the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mrs Femi Webster-Esho advised the celebrants to avoid all forms of lawlessness during the festival. Governor Aregbesola particularly thanked the people for uplifting the traditions of the Yoruba race through the festival. He therefore prayed for God’s guidance and protection during and after the festival.
PUBLIC NOTICE This is to inform members of the public that ATOLAGBE DAMILASE OPE, is the same person as ATOLAGBE DAMILARE OPEYEMI. That I now wish to be known and addressed as ATOLAGBE DAMILARE OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. ECO Bank, GTBank and general public should take note.
NEWS
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Attack On Tinubu's Political Empire, A Disservice To APC - APC Chieftain exploiting their greed and ambition to destroy their kinsmen. He who rides on the back of tiger will end up in its belly. The politician called
on the South-West governors and Yoruba leaders to rally round Tinubu, saying that any attack on him is an attack on the Yoruba race.
She submitted that the plan and political gimmicks to destroy Tinubu’s political empire will fail, as many others that had come before this time.
Alimi and Alaafin of By ISMAEEL UTHMAN Oyo. The masterminds OLLOWING the perceived plots by some of the attacks on leader of the All Progressives Congress are just (APC) to humiliate the National Leader of Tinubu the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a female INAUGURATION OF IFE-NORTH-WEST LCDA chieftain of the APC in the State of Osun, Mrs Taiwo Oluga, has stated that members of the party in the South-West will fight dirty in defence of Tinubu. “I don’t know of any Oluga, in an interview with OSUN other region, but in the DEFENDER on South-West, we are Monday in Osogbo, fully in support of our noted that the party leader, Tinubu. He is leaders would be doing the one that gave us a great disservice to direction when we themselves if they were confused. He led attempt to attack the us to the APC; he political empire of directed us to adopt Tinubu, who she Buhari. We don’t know described as an astute anybody, or party. politician and APC What we know is Tinubu. benefactor. “I want to remind According to Oluga, willing tools only an ingrate and the mischievous people politicians; those who would gather to are being used against •The official inauguration of Ife-North-West LCDA was done with fanfare in Edun-Abon, State of Osun recently. On weaken the political Tinubu to remember the occasion are (front row) Mr Kole Akinrinade (2nd left); Mr Rufus Awotidoye (4th left); Alhaji Iyiola Muraina strength of Tinubu in an the story of Afonja, (5th left); Mr Wole Adunda (6th left) and other eminent personalities. attempt to welcome the establishment of northern hegemony in the South-West. Oluga maintained represents Ejigbo State Ejigboland, being the and private places. that Tinubu is too big to Constituency, spoke in leaders of tomorrow, the The Speaker, who be crumbled, especially Ejigbo on Sunday at the younger ones need the promised to continue to by the people he 1438 Hijra Quran support and care of their create platform that By KAZEEM MOHAMMED brought up politically, Competition sponsored parents and guardians to would contribute to the warning that anybody PEAKER of the State of Osun House of by him and coordinated prepare them for future learning capacity of who is involved in the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, by the Ejigbo Muslim challenges. youths, said, the plan to attack the has enjoined parents to encourage their wards Youths Forum, with 35 He said in whatever competition would be political structure of in their quest towards acquiring both quranic and Quranic institutions ways, the youths should made a yearly event. Tinubu should desist western knowledge. Stressing that he had and build confidence in participating. be encouraged to engage from such ill-informed According to the in competition, with a organised a similar Bible This was just as he themselves to make them plan. Speaker, who is also the view to giving them more Competition for Christian charged youths to focus excel in life. The House of on seeking knowledge Salaam, who Asiwaju Adinni of confidence in both public youths, he said, this was Assembly aspirant for aimed at balancing the religions equation of his Ayedaade State constituents. Constituency in 2015 Salaam then dedicated general elections said By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI his sponsorship of the she strongly believed in Tinibu’s leadership. our people are associations, especially, competition to the late continuously living in the so-called Ogbomoso Alhaji Ganiyu Adejumo, She stated that HE National Association of Osun State serious apprehension Parapo, who have been whom, he described as Tinubu, being a human, Students’ (NAOSS) has petitioned the and fear of attacks in a persistently threatening his confidant before his is prone to err but his Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibraheem coordinated effort to our people. death. contributions to the Idris and Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, “We therefore, call on The Chief Imam of APC and emergence of over the safety of the state indigenes residing in chase them away from the IGP and Governor Sheik new Nigeria that Ogbomoso, the location of the crisis-ridden Ladoke our collective patrimony. Ajimobi to urgently arrest Ejigboland, “We are compelled to Suleiman Omotokese, brought President Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). the situation by cry to the Inspectorcommended Salaam for Muhammadu Buhari to NAOSS, in a petition Oladejo, and Ayoola General of Police and Oyo providing adequate power could not be directed to the police boss Seun, the Secretary, said State Government to security of lives and the sponsorship of such underestimated. prevailing protect our people, property for our people.” an educative programme and Oyo State governor the in especially, the staff and The union also called on that would broaden the Oluga said: “Tinubu and made available to circumstances knowledge of is not being called journalists on Monday in Ogbomoso with the students of the university prominent traditional participants. Jagaban, the title was Osogbo, expressed reports of “incessant who have been living in rulers, including the Ooni He urged the on Osun Ogbomoso for decades. of Ife, Oba Adeyeye given to him because of concern over alleged attacks” participants and other his political sagacity, persistent attack on Osun indigenes over the “For your information, Enitan Ogunwusi, the youths to use the event as notorious Alaafin of Oyo, Oba toughness, courage and students and staff of the ownership tussle of some an opportunity for them sacrifices. Those that university, who are Osun LAUTECH require urgent sponsored thugs are Lamidi Adeyemi and to seek more knowledge attention of the IGP to making life more difficult Oba Akani Saliu are fighting his political indigenes. in every sphere of life. The letter signed by the secure the lives and for our people in the town, Adetunji to prevail on structure are just Also the Deputy Leader residences, Ogbomonso Parapo and wasting their association president, property of the affected their businesses and other the Soun of Ogbomoso not of the Muslim Youths Comrade Bashiru people in the area. resources. According to NAOSS, belongings are under to divide Yoruba race on Forum, Ustaz Sherifdeen the ownership of Ojekale, lauded the despite assurances from serious threats. The sponsor for the event, both Osun and Oyo state “On daily basis, we are LAUTECH governments on safety of receiving reports of attack association added: “It is describing him as a lives, Osun students and from the students and unfortunate that some responsible human being, By TOBI ESAN staff, the reality in staff which have forced stakeholders in Oyo State who is committed to the HE Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Ogbomoso is that Osun Osun indigenes to desert are pressing for the course of his people. At the end of the are their homes. We consider termination of joint Olorunsogo, Oke-Eri Olorun will on indigenes of the competition, AbdulahiSunday October 16, 2016 hold its harvest continuously suffering this as unjust, criminal ownership humiliation, assault and and violation of the rights university, which is ibn-Moshood Quranic and thanksgiving service. from and privileges of the completely against the Institution emerged the According to a Costain area, Ibokun harassment spirit of the founding overall winner, Maadu-lstudents and staff. statement signed by the Road Oke-Baale, sponsored thugs in the “To complicate the fathers, who in their Alli town. Quranic m i n i s t e r - i n - c h a r g e , Osogbo. The letter reads in part; issue unexpectedly, the vision, looked beyond I n s t i t u t i o n e m e r g e d Prophet Adepoju It stated further that attack is being micro-environment and second and Al-Furuni “Despite the assurances Adebanji, the service the service would hold coordinated by some concentrated on the Quranic Institution would hold at the inside the church from various quarters to individuals and development of Yoruba emerged third. protect Osun indigenes church located behind auditorium by 11am. race.”
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Osun Speaker Tasks Parents To Encourage Wards In Seeking Knowledge S LAUTECH Crisis: NAOSS Petitions IGP, Ajimobi Over
Osun Indigenes’ Safety T
Oke-Eri C&S Holds Harvest T
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Ogbeni’s Commendable Move On Cocoa Production -Continued from Page 1 There is no any other alternative than to toe this line diversification - if we are to get out of this quagmire which we have brought on our heads by our own profligacy. It’s unfortunate that we have to learn our lesson in a hard way. But we just have to accept the reality of our situation. For our case is synonymous with the case of the one who fails to plan. And as we know anyone that fails to plan surely only plans to fail. This has been an incontestible fact from time immemorial. Throughout the time that rain of money was pouring heavily on our land by virtue of heavy
proceeds from crude oil we failed to utilise the money by building infrastructure and establishing industries to provide employment for the youths. Rather we engaged in profligacy of the highest order while humongous corruption - as epitomised by the Jonathan administration became the order of the day. Now we are paying heavily for our lack of planning. But this is no time to lament. Rather the situation demands thinking outside the box with a view to providing solution to our present precarious condition. And as we have collectively agreed - at least in principle - our solution lies in promoting agriculture over and above our dependence on oil. This is the way to go and this is
why we are happy that the ilk of Ogbeni Aregbesola are not wasting time in this regard. Aregbesola has taken the bull by the horn by embarking on aggressive revival of the agric sector. Like he said Osun will very soon become the hub of cocoa production in the country. By the time this vision is realised Osun economy will bounce back and there will be enough to continue the provision of dividends of democracy for the people of the state. We believe it can be achieved. We must not forget that all the feats that Chief Obafemi Awolowo recorded as a Premier of western region were achieved with the
proceeds from cocoa. All the giant strides he recorded were made possible with the money realised from cocoa as oil had not been discovered when the late sage ran the affairs of western region. Till date Chief Awolowo’s government still remains the best example in referring to good governance and pro-people government in this part of the world. Thus if Awolowo could record such giant achievements with cocoa, then it’s high time we started cocoa production on a massive scale towards resuscitating our economy especially in the South-West here. The avatar had shown us the way, the ball is now in our court. We commend Ogbeni Aregbesola for quickly re-
What Does The Future Portray For Motherless Children?
M
Y heart keeps pondering over this motherless children issue and what the future holds for them. My last visit to one of the motherless homes was nothing to write home about. I met the children rumbling and looking uncared for. I was indeed greatly disturbed by the state of the motherless kids. I thereafter, ruminated over the possible causes of the neglect of these children by their care providers. Through recent findings from a research I conducted, the parlous state of the homes could not be farfetched. The most paramount of which were shortage of nannies, food scarcity, non-challant attitude of
various tiers of government towards these children, lack of shelter and basic provisions. In the past five years, I have taken up the challenge of visiting some of the motherless babies’ homes in the state every six months
and observations have shown little or no changes in their infrastructure and the welfare of the children. The state government through its relevant ministries and agencies has most crucial role to play in seeing to the welfare of these
children by visiting them regularly, paying attention to their needs, paying good salaries to their nannies and providing them with good shelter coupled with ensuring adequate supervision of the workers. As stated earlier, the
motherless babies’ homes should be staffed with agile and caring nannies to care for the children. The nannies should also see to it that they discharge their duties diligently, faithfully and ensure that government investment on the children does not
amount to a waste. To the larger society, I want to say we all have a role to play to make our nation a better place for all, by extending a hand of fellowship to these children, as government alone cannot provide all their needs. This could be through provision of education, which is one of the legacies that could make them fit into the society. I, therefore, urge NGOs, philanthropists and individuals to always donate, sponsor indigent children to school or train them on a vocation, with a view to stopping them from becoming miscreants in the society. •OLUWATOSIN ABEGUNDE, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
sponding to what our present unpalatable situation requires. We hope other state governors too will follow suit. There is no time to waste. To waste time is to wallow for long in our present quagmire and that’s dangerous for the future. Only agriculture can provide a long term solution to our problem. Kudos to Ogbeni! •This piece, already used in one of our previous editions, is repeated due to popular demand.
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Job Vacancies In Nigeria Accounting Clerk · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Accounting · Posted by Hot Jobs on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215932 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs We are looking for an accurate accounting clerk to be responsible for financial record keeping. Accounting clerk responsibilities include using specialized ledgers and accounting software to record and process expenditures, receipts, payroll and other financial transactions. Responsibilities · Provide accounting and clerical support to the accounting department · Type accurately, prepare and maintain accounting documents and records · Prepare bank deposits, general ledger postings and statements · Reconcile accounts in a timely manner · Daily enter key data of financial transactions in database · Provide assistance and support to company personnel · Research, track and restore accounting or documentation problems and discrepancies · Inform management and compile reports/summaries on activity areas · Function in accordance with established standards, procedures and applicable laws · Constantly update job knowledge Candidate Requirements · Proven accounting experience · Familiarity with bookkeeping and basic accounting procedures · Competency in MS Office, databases and accounting software · Accuracy and attention to detail · Aptitude for numbers Apply before Friday, December 9, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. …………………..end…………………. Project Engineer · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Engineering · Posted by Hot Jobs on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215920 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs A construction company located in Lekki, Lagos State is currently seeking to employ suitably qualified candidate to fill the vacant position: Responsibilities: · Develops project objectives by reviewing project proposals and plans; conferring with management. · Determines project responsibilities by identifying project phases and elements; assigning personnel to phases and elements; reviewing bids from contractors. · Determines project specifications by studying product design, customer requirements, and performance standards; completing technical studies; preparing cost estimates. · Confirms product performance by designing and conducting tests. · Determines project schedule by studying project plan and specifications; calculating time requirements; sequencing project elements. · Maintains project schedule by monitoring project progress; coordinating activities; resolving problems. · Controls project plan by reviewing design, specifications, and plan and schedule changes; recommending actions. · Controls project costs by approving expenditures; administering contractor contracts. · Prepares project status reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends; recommending actions. · Maintains safe and clean working environment by enforcing procedures, rules, and regulations. · Maintains project data base by writing computer programs; entering and backing up data. · Maintains product and company reputation by complying with federal and state regulations. · Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Candidate Requirements · Degree in Engineering or related field. · Requirements Analysis, Design Skills, Project Management, Manufacturing Methods and Procedures, Process Improvement, Technical Understanding, Documentation Skills, Safety Management, Supervision, CAD, CAD/CAM Circuit Design Apply before Friday, December 9, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ……………………….end………………………… Graphics/Creative Designer · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: IT · Posted by Hot Jobs on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215919 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs A telecommunication company located in major State with dealership of the major networks is seeking to employ young resourceful and honest person to fill the vacant position: Responsibilities: · Create visual concepts, by hand or using computer software, communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. · Develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports to market products of the client. · Ability to bring into visuals the objectives, thoughts and mindset the client wants to show to the public in marketing campaigns and product launches and other visual interpretations. · Managing client proposals from typesetting through to design, print and production. · Working with clients, briefing and advising them with regards to design style, format, print production and timescales Candidate Requirements · Degree in 3D design or related field. · passion and enthusiasm for design, with a creative flair; · a flexible approach when working in a team; · excellent communication skills in order to interpret and negotiate briefs with clients; · good presentation skills and the confidence to explain and sell ideas to clients and colleagues; · time management skills and the ability to cope with several projects at a time; · accuracy and attention to detail when finalising designs; · being open to feedback and willing to make changes to your designs; · effective networking skills to build contacts. Apply before Friday, December 9, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ……………………..end……………………… System Administrator/Network Engineers · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: IT · Posted by Hot Jobs on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215918 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs A telecommunication company located in major State with dealership of the major networks is seeking to employ young resourceful and honest person to fill the vacant position: Responsibilities: · Responsible for answering questions posed by the end users. · Assist with installation and configuration of Smart Phones and telephone equipment in accordance with firm defined installation templates or guidelines. · Handle IS equipment setup for hew hires and office moves · Maintain hardware inventory and documentation of existing applications and procedures. · Assist in developing and documenting improvements to current processes. · Excellent ability to follow through with assigned tasks or projects. · Configure and maintain the organization’s internal computer network. · Manage network security tools, e.g., firewall, anti-virus and intrusion detection systems. · Identify, troubleshoot, solve and document network connectivity and performance issues. · Monitor network performance and optimize the network for optimal speed and availability. · Install, configure and maintain network hardware, for example, Cisco routers and switches. · Deploy, configure and upgrade network software, such as, enterprise antivirus or diagnostics programs. · Implement and maintain emergency backup and restore systems for mission-critical network servers. · Network administrators regulate user access to sensitive files to protect against internal security breaches. · Talking to clients to get details of faults, Possess strong verbal and written communication skills and high level of patience when dealing with non-technical users
· Working out the reasons for a fault and explaining these to the client · Fixing equipment, including printers and scanners (known as peripherals) · Setting up new equipment and upgrading existing systems · Testing and servicing equipment · Recording problems and their solutions for future reference · Training clients on new systems or software applications. · You may work for a company as part of a team, or support outside business clients. · Network management and administration requires documentation of network design, equipment configuration and other details that aid in troubleshooting when the network is down. · The rapid changes in the technology world demand an individual who values ongoing education. Candidate Requirements · Degree in computer software/computer systems engineering or related field. · an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of your employer’s business and industry needs, as well as the technical demands; · to recognise the importance of customer focus and/or of serving the needs of the end user; · excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate with staff who are not technically trained; · the skill to take on a variety of tasks and pay attention to detail; · analytical and problem-solving ability; · teamwork skills and the ability to feel comfortable working with different teams, clients and groups of staff across an organisation; · organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your workload. Apply before Friday, December 9, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. …………………………end…………………………… Construction Expeditor · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Construction · Posted by Hot Jobs on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215908 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client is Looking for a skilled Construction expeditor to facilitate the smooth completion of construction projects. You will ensure that every construction site or job has an adequate and timely flow of materials and equipment.The goal is to support the timely and cost-effective completion of construction projects. Responsibilities: · Inspect orders upon arrival to ensure the correct quality and quantity · Monitor inventory of supplies for different jobs or sites · Place orders when needed aiming for timely delivery and competitive price · Arrange the movement of material between locations · Maintain good relationships with suppliers and vendors · Keep accurate records Candidate Requirements · Experience in project management · Ability to understand technical specifications of material and equipment · Excellent communication and negotiation skills · Well-organized with multi-tasking abilities Qualification: · OND, HND or relevant field. Apply before Friday, December 9, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. …………………….end………………………. Front Desk Officer · Lagos, ¦ 30 000 - ¦ 40 000 Per Month (Negotiable) Benefits: Medical Aid, Bonus, Training, Maternity Leave · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Construction · Posted by Flyrate Excellence Limited on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215907 Job Details Employer: Flyrate Excellence Limited · Attending to walk-in client/ customers · Planning and scheduling Meetings and appointments · Keeping records of daily activities and keeping track record of customers. · Coordinating office services such as personnel, budget and records management control · Overseeing maintenance of personnel and fiscal records · Responsible for the procurement of office supplies and maintenance of inventory records · Enters and manipulates data and information in word processing, spreadsheet and database applications by creating word processing templates and Form letters · Prepares correspondence for Executive review and signature · Compiling all receipts and records of expenditure of the Company · Following up and ensuring that all approved purchases are duly made and appropriate report submitted to the Company Executive · Following up and ensuring payments for all supplies made and services rendered to customers by the Company · Ensuring proper stores administration and effective management of materials · Compiling all requisitions for funds, loans, remittances and reimbursements and addressing them subject to prior approval from the Managing Director · Carrying out all other duties as may be prescribed or directed by the Company Executive. Candidate Requirements · Minimum of OND · MS Word, Typing, IT Compliant, Computer Knowledge · Expression, Social, Good looks, Presentable, Excel Spread Sheet, Corel Draw · Spiral Binding, Customer Relations, Phone Manners, etc Required Skills good appearance strong typing and data entry skills phonetics and sounding This position reports to: Human Resource Manager Apply before Sunday, October 30, 2016 - 21 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ………………………….end………………………….. Public Relations Manager · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: PR & Communication · Posted by Hot Jobs on Monday, October 10, 2016 · Reference: 215906 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client is looking for Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) to nurture a strong industry network, increase awareness and develop an enviable corporate image by developing and executing effective communication and media relations programs.RESPONSIBILITIES · Develop a marketing communications plan including strategy, goals, budget and tactics · Develop media relations strategy, seeking high-level placements in print, broadcast and online media · Coordinate all public relations activities · Direct social media team to engage audiences across traditional and new media · Leverage existing media relationships and cultivate new contacts within business and industry media · Manage media inquiries and interview requests · Create content for press releases, byline articles and keynote presentations · Monitor, analyze and communicate PR results on a quarterly basis · Build relationships with thought leaders to grow industry awareness · Maintain a keen understanding of industry trends affecting clients and make appropriate recommendations regarding communication strategy surrounding them Candidate Requirements · Proven working experience in public relations required · Proven track record designing and executing successful public relations campaigns at both a local and national level · Strong relationships with both local and national business and industry media outlets · Experience in acting as a company spokesperson; comfortable and skilled in both broadcast and print media interviews · Exceptional writing and editing skills · Event planning experience QUALIFICATION: · BA/MA degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications or a related field Apply before Friday, December 9, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. If you have not received a response within two weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful. ……………………….end……………………………
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MAGAZINE
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Education OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Towards All-round Excellence As prelude to the sixth year anniversary of the incumbent Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration in the saddle of leadership and service in the State of Osun (second year in its second tenure in office), the laudable achievements recorded by the Government Unusual, which are many and diverse are here put on record. Today, the giant strides are still counting. NIYI OLASINDE devotes this fresh series to revisiting and updating the strides with the sole intent of fulfilling the mandate of giving proper documentation to the milestone achievements of the administration; even in the face of paucity of funds that is currently plaguing virtually all states in the Nigerian federation.
•A view of Ejigbo High School, Ejigbo, State of Osun.
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•A cross section of Government Public Schools’ pupils waving to President Muhammadu Buhari on his arrival for the commissioning of Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.
Towards All-round Excellence
•Continued from Tuesday, August 16 T is no longer news that one of the major areas of concern to government, policy makers and concerned stakeholders in the State of Osun and the entire South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria today is the rot, decay and systemic collapse in the field of education and concerns on how to regain lost grounds in the sub-sector. In past editions, of which earlier parts of this series are inclusive, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has brainstormed dutifully on the rate, level, depth and intensity of the collapse witnessed in the subsector and the predisposing factors that brought about the devastating deterioration. Unfortunately, the more we accord time and volumes of work to the ugly trend, the graver and larger the problems and concerns seem to loom! One of the indices of ascertaining the stark realities of the mess into which education has been plunged in the South-West is the results of candidates from the zone in recent editions of the West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The results of the 2015 May / June edition of the examinations in particular speak volumes of the danger that is already staring us in the face and the defiance of consistent mass failure to the gigantic policy policies of governments, plus the huge committance in monetary terms that had gone along with it. In the State of Osun as an example, being a sub-set of the larger SouthWestern zone, we have in times past weighed the impressive policies, programmes and activities rolled out at awful costs, most especially since the coming on board of the administration of OgbeniRaufAdesojiAregbesola on November 27, 2010. We have weighed
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all along the impact of the free, functional and qualitative education packages rolled out by the administration. We have measured the quality expenditure devoted to each of these activities, policies and programmes. We have considered the debut of the first-ever State of Osun Education Summit, held in 2011; we have considered the entire “O” programmes, especially as they affect turning around the tide positively for education. Particularly, we have considered such life-touching “O” programmes as O UNIFORM, O MEALS, O SCHOOLS and all the rest. We have devoted quality time and space in writing to extolling the virtues in the schools reclassification bids, the schools’ rebranding policy, as well as the overhaul in the schools environment. Aside these, such other policies and programmes of the incumbent administration which deserve our commendation include the emergence of Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) and the free enrolment of final year high school students in the public schools for the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASCE). This latter effort, though a legacy which the RaufAregbesola administration met on ground; the administration has formidably built on it, to the extent that records released in one of our most recent editions portrayed the upward trend in the figure of beneficiaries from the programme. Of recent, hardly has any single sector or sub-sector come under severe criticisms within the federation called Nigeria as does the education sector. On most occasions, critics underrate as spurious and exaggerated the estimations by governments at the state level that certain huge amounts of money have been expended on
the sector. We need to put the facts straight that the fact that performances of final year students dwindle should not and cannot remove the fact that some governments have labored valiantly to revive lost glories in the area of education. As shall still be shown in the edition of the week today, the administration of OgbeniAregbesola in the State of Osun has towered prominently in providing worthwhile alternative to good infrastructure and service-related necessities hitherto considered to be exclusive preserves of private schools and educational institutions. We shall see more of these as our edition for the week unfolds. For now, let us raise the real issues that have made education to call for urgent intervention in our state and the entire South-West geopolitical zone of the country. DUCATION has become a trouble spot in our parts in recent times. The South-West, needless to say, covers Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti states. Out of these six states, apart from Lagos State, which statistics has shown to be ranking sixth in the entire federation, the rest have been finding the results of their candidates, especially those from public schools in lack-lustre cadre. If the observations made above are true, then something must have gone wrong somewhere to reverse the long-known traditions, under which the South-West pert of Nigeria was envy to all other parts and second to none in scholarship, academic and education exertions. As a matter of fact, all through the era during which military rule lasted in Nigeria, the focus was how to bridge the wide educational gap between the South and the North in Nigeria; with the South in context being majorly the
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South-West, which legacies in advancement in the area of education dated to the days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of the defunct Western Region in the early / late 1950s. The sad news today resides in the fact that the profile of the presentday South-Western states are not at all attractive, given the recentlyreleased statistics of rankings of performances of their students in last year’s (2015) WASSCE. According to the specifics of that statistics, out of the thirty-six (36) states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, State of Osun placed twenty- nineth (29th); Oyyo twentysixth (26th); Ogun nineteenth (19th); and Ondo thirteenth (13th). Ekiti placed eleventh (11th) with eight thousand, nine-hundred and fiftyfour (8, 954) of twenty-one thousand, three-hundred and thirty-three (21, 333) candidates passing. From Osun, only eight thousand, eight-hundred and one (8, 801) of forty-eight thousand, eight-hundred and eighteen (48, 818) candidates passed with five credits and above. In Oyo, sixteen thousand, five-hundred and eighty-eight (15, 588), representing 21.03 per cent, out of seventy-eight thousand, eight-hundred and ninetysix (78, 896) candidates passed. Ogun recorded twenty-five thousand and six (25, 006) passes, out of seventyfive thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-four (75, 994) candidates, or a success rate of 32.89 per cent. Analysts and observers in the trend, growth and development of education have observed that what made the South-West cynosure of all eyes, is its antecedents in education, which made it a pace-setter. While, as observed earlier, most observers point accusing fingers at state governments and their chief executives for the declined state of •Continued on page 10
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PHOTOTALK
OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Inspected Some Of The Ongoing Construction Of Bridges On Osogbo East Bypass Dual Carriage Road Recently.
•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) pointing to one of the bridges.
•Aregbesola inspecting one of the bridges.
State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prayed At Solahudeen Oladejo Central Mosque During The Jumat Service, Last Friday.
•Aregbesola (middle); Chief Imam of Oladejo Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Shitu (right) and Director, Shariah College of Nigeria, Sheik Adiyatu-llah (left).
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Chief Imam Of Masjid Nabawy Medina, Saudi Arabia, Paid A Courtesy Visit To President Muhammadu Buhari At The State House, Abuja, Recently.
•President Buhari (right) in a discussion with team of Chief Imam of Masjid Nabawy Medina Saudi Arabia.
•President Buhari (middle) Zamfara State Governor, Abubakar Yari (6th left); Chief Imam of Medinah, Sheik Abdul-Mushin Ibn Muhammad Al-Kasimy (7th left); Consul General Saudi Arabia, Sheik Majeed BN Muhammed Algahtamy (8th right) and others in a group photograph.
President Muhammadu Buhari Attends Programme Of Passing Out Parade And Commissioning Ceremony In Honour Of 63 Regular Course Of The Nigerian Defence Academy In Kaduna State Last Saturday.
•President Buhari inspecting the Guard of honour during the programme.
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Towards All-round Excellence
•A cross section of pupils displaying ‘PEACE AND PROGRESS’ through calisthenic display in Osogbo recently. •Continued from page 10 Aregbesola administration. To put the record things, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine wishes do straight, it came as the first ever in the annals of differ slightly, especially considering what the education summits in the state! By that singular the incumbent administration experience has been in the State of Osun under action, the able leadership of OgbeniAregbesola. Most demonstrated its unwavering resolve to tackle of the critics argue that since 1999, successive state head-on the spate of neglect and rot that had governments, their chief executives and their bedeviled the education industry in the state. Also umbrella political parties have got their priorities by it, the Government Unusual took the bull by mixed up and abandoned education for inanities. the horns to restructure and reconstruct amenities Like it has been observed in earlier paragraphs and infrastructure in the education sector of the of this edition, the standard most widely used as state; in order to restore quality and promote basis for comparison of grounds covered in the functional education at all levels in the state. Apart from the Free Education Programme at area of education in the South-West has been the passion and zeal for excellence wielded by the the Primary and Secondary levels, the Aregbesola Premier of the defunct Western Region, late Chief administration in the state has made remarkable Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues who achievements in the educational sub-sector. An pioneered free education in 1956 and sustained it instance of this is the rebranding, repackaging and transformation brought to bear on the Homein the Second Republic. For now, the exploits of the RaufAregbesola in Grown School Feeding Programme; an old the area of education shall be trumpeted a lot programme of the Yar’Adua / Oyinlola years; more. Next edition shall carry more of the analysis which has been resuscitated and rechristened begun on the rot and decay witnessed in the sector Osun Elementary School Free Feeding and Health nationwide. The Education aspect of the Programme (O’ Meal). With the reorganization administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji and resuscitation of the programme, all the pupils Aregbesola deserves much of critical focus; since in primaries one to four in public schools in the it proved all along that Education sub-sector is State of Osun are now covered under the free one of the principal specialties of the feeding programme which offers them wide administration. To this end, OSUN DEFENDER assortments of highly nutritious meals during the Magazine has devoted much space and time to school hours. Even meals that are not served in its detailed spotlight in series of our editions in routine menu in conventional practice, like quality the past years. It is not as if we are giving up of chocolate, milk, eggs and chicken are on the list this effort; but we intend not to overbeat it. So, of regular menu of the feeding programme. SUN DEFENDER Magazine wishes to we shall make mention of some of the giant strides pause here and reflect briefly in passing recorded in the sub-sector as basis for desires and the extent of international acceptance and expectations for the entire second tenure; then we shall justify the incumbent administration’s recognition which the State of Osun; through the effort as that which pupils, parents, teachers and O’ Meal programme has garnered unto itself. On perhaps some other stakeholders have least January 22, 2014, the Governor of the state and grand designer cum prime mover behind all the appreciated!. S a sub-sector of the Social Services Sector innovation packages currently ongoing in the of our economy, the importance of state, OgbeniRaufAregbesola was in the European education to the socio-economic and nation of the United Kingdom on the invitation industrial development of any nation cannot be of the higher legislative chambers of that Queen’s overemphasized. It is against this background that country, the House of Lords, to enlighten, brief the administration of OgbeniAregbesola has and teach the parliamentarians on the nitty-gritty remained resolute on the promotion of functional and workings of the O’ Meal programme, which education in the state. The governor continually has turned it into a bundle of wonders in the state. recounted how a timely discovery was made by It is no longer news the vibrant and groundhis team that the educational infrastructures in shaking standing ovation the governor was our schools were in worrisome state upon their accorded at the event. Through that feat, assumption of office in late 2010. In order to rightly OgbeniAregbesola has done us proud as a people and accurately assess the level of decay in our as the first ever governor in Nigeria; even in Black educational system, the Government of the State Africa to be so esteemed and honoured to be quickly held a two-day education summit with summoned to lend knowledge to the White the theme: “Resolving the Education Crisis in World, usually looked upon for originating Osun State: Bridging Analysis and innovations in virtually all areas of human Implementation Gaps” at the Osun endeavour, education inclusive. This feat came to StateUniversity (UNIOSUN) in February 2011. the shame, confounding and stupefaction of The summit was to become one of the most detractors who see nothing good in virtually all prominent and decisive giant strides taken by the the good gestures of the Aregbesola
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administration, especially in the Education subsector. More wonders are still expected to unfold for the present and during the years ahead; in spite of the currently prevailing paucity of funds. In addition, the poor condition of infrastructure in public schools in the state is already being radically reversed. Towards this end, the first phase of the construction of New Model 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle and 20 High Schools is in top gear. The fiscal year 2012 witnessed massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of the dilapidated school buildings inherited by the administration of the day from its inept preceding administration. This, the governor noted, is in consonance with the team’s determination to raise the standard of education in our dear state. T is in a bid to arrest the spate of perennial acute shortage of teachers in our schools and concomitantly ensuring effective teaching and learning activities in schools that the incumbent administration has embarked on massive recruitment and selection processes for qualified, quality, competent and experienced teachers for engagement at our Primary and Secondary levels. This step, apart from being a necessity to compensate for the ravaging neglect of the past; became necessary to take adequate and abundant care of the exploding enrolment figures in schools, following the introduction of a true, functional and qualitative education at those levels. Specifically, various selection exercises have so far been conducted by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the State PostPrimary Teaching Service Establishment and Pensions Commission (TEPPO), involving various numbers of candidates successfully absorbed into the teaching service of the state. Following the large number of retirees in the state’s teaching service at the end of the 2012 fiscal year; arrangements were put in place in year 2013 to get a huge number of teachers employed in replacement for the retired ones. This plan saw the light of day as the year witnessed massive recruitment and selection of teachers at those levels of education. With proper inauguration of appropriate boards in particular, provision of required number and quality of teaching personnel has begun to receive greater attention in the past year. In this direction, greater attention has been received during successive years. In addition to these numbers of teachers engaged, selection has also been made for competent and qualified teachers among the volunteer cadets of the popular Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and those hitherto employed by the Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA). According to plan, the process of
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•Continued on page 11
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Towards All-round Excellence •Continued from page 10
recruitment of teachers, which had been on, and was billed for completion within the first quarter of 2012, is intended to be a continuous process. What this implies is that even during the New Year, another batch of massive recruitment and selection of teachers is expected to be carried out for existing and continuously-opening vacancies in the elementary and secondary rungs of the education ladder. Also in the area of education, the governor noted that it was in his administration’s bid to ameliorating the suffering of parents, guardians and students that reduction was effected in the exorbitant fees being charged by the authorities of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN). A similar gesture was extended to all other tertiary institutions owned by the state. These include the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree; the Osun State College of Technology (OSCOTECH), EsaOke; the Osun State College of Education (OSCOED), Ilesa; and the Osun State College of Education (OSCOED), Ila-Orangun. The Government of the State, the governor declared, had abrogated all forms of charges in our public schools. To achieve effectiveness in teaching and learning, the examination and running grants being released quarterly by the government to the public secondary schools in the state have been increased by over 300 per cent. It was promised that the Aregbesola administration shall continue to give the deserved attention to the welfare of teachers in 2012. This promise was redeemed all through the subsequent years and during the year 2-014; and this has continued through the years till date, judging by the level of recognition being currently accorded to teachers and the teaching profession. It is placed on record how in the year 2012 teachers in the high echelon in the state were elevated to the exalted status of Permanent Secretary, with the designation of Tutors General. Facts on ground have also revealed that within the short period of the incumbent administration of RaufAregbesola in office, the State Library Board had received the full attention of government, particularly in the provision of conducive working environment; a situation which has positively impacted on its services to the reading public. The governor constantly promises that the State Library Board would continue to receive quality support from the State Government of Osun in 2012 and years ahead.
•A laboratory at Ataoja High School, Osogbo.
OgbeniAregbesola also promises his administration’s resolve to revive the State Scholarship Board. This promise has been redeemed in the year 2012, and shall be consolidated in years ahead. Under the auspices of the scholarship board, assistance is given to deserving, outstanding but indigent (financially challenged) students of the state’s origin to obtain higher education at home and abroad. Since the governor has already rolled out the State of Osun Schools’ Calisthenics Programme, alongside the inauguration of EwaIpinleOsun, he has since been forthcoming in the fulfillment of his promise to give revival to the old boys’ and girls’ associations and voluntary clubs in all primary and secondary schools for leadership training and team spirit building. In year 2013, it was in full realization of the vibrant role and the auspicious place of Education sub-sector of the Social Services Sector to the socioeconomic life and political emancipation of the State of Osun and the liberation of the people that the incumbent administration accorded to it a total allocation of N13.7 Billion or 18.8 per cent of its total capital budget; though that initial budgetary provision later on got reviewed upwardly, following the consideration of the State of Osun House of Assembly. URING the past years of the administration, there have been tremendous achievements recorded for the Education sub-sector in the state. Apart from the State of Osun Schools Uniform Scheme (O’ Uniform) other strings of successes have followed. Chiefest of them all; which is among the fundamental firsts which the administration has recorded so far is the introduction of the computer-like devise into the teaching-learning programme at the Senior Secondary level of education in the state. The programme called Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) has brought lots of improvements in to the learning processes at that stage as well eased the process of getting the state’s candidates for external examinations adequately prepared for success. Lots have already been written on the nitty-gritty of the Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) our earlier editions. A detailed elucidation shall soon be made on it under appropriate segments of this edition. The launch however eventually saw the light of day in the month of May 2013. Also during the month of May, precisely on Monday the 27th May2013, the annual globally-
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held Children’s Day celebrations took a different turn in the State of Osun. This was as at the instance of the Government Unusual of OgbeniRaufAregbesola the first-ever O’odua World Children’s Day Celebration was organized and held. The event, a unifying force for all offspring of legendary Oduduwa in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, turned out to be a convergence of all children, adult and traditional (royal) fathers of Yoruba extraction spread across the globe. At the event of the day, representatives and contingents present included those from about ten states in the federation of Nigeria, those from the neighbouriing old Dahomey Kingdom (now Republic of Benin), and those from other parts of the universe, with the inclusion of the United States of America (USA), the Americas and the Caribbean. It was really a colourful and eventful programme. The states within the federation include the host state, the State of Osun. Others are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti States. We also had in attendance other states like Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states. Apart from an impressive turnout from almost all royal fathers from the host state at the event, royal fathers from other places outside the State of Osun include the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba LamidiOlayiwolaAdeyemi III; the Aseyin of Iseyin; and the Eleruwa of Eruwa. Royal fathers from the Republic of Benin include the Olupopo of Popo; Onisabe of Sabe and Oniketu of Ketu among others. Through the auspices presented by the programme, youths from those different states mentioned above and those from other parts were able to interact and cooperate with love and share commonalities. As it turned out, and as Governor Aregbesola himself pointed out at the programme, the event of May 27, held at the main bowl of the Osogbo Township Stadium (under construction at the time) marked the largest-ever held congregation of black nationalities anywhere in the world. The greatest achievement of the event was bringing together after a long period of conflict two prominent and frontline Yoruba royal fathers, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba LamidiOlayiwolaAdeyemi III; and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba OkunadeSijuade, Olubuse II (now deceased). During the month of July, same year, the third in the series of quiz competitions annually held in commemoration of the birthday of the •Continued on page 12
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OSUN DEFENDER Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Towards All-round Excellence
•Frontage of Ataoja High School, Osogbo. Continued from page 11 internationally reputed literary icon and Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor OluwoleAkinwande Soyinka was held, with the State Government of Osun taking the position of a leading light. Last year’s episode, marking the academic giant’s 79 th birthday had the involvement of seventy-nine youths for the finals which were held in the Government House of the State of Osun in Osogbo, the state capital. The aim of the programme transcended merely celebrating the excellence radiated by Soyinka, but raising future stars among our youths; who would project our image in the future; even after we might have been long-gone! This feat has already been repeated this year at the occasion of the 80th birthday anniversary celebration of the academic giant. Time and again during the outgone years, we brought to the fore the numerous achievements of the incumbent administration in the state in the aspect of development of schools infrastructure in the state. This is talking in terms of the activities of the State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Project (O’ SCHOOLS). In September 2013, the first in the numerous ultramodern schools building projects of the O’ SCHOOLS project was officially commissioned and delivered for use. The Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, the state capital is a 900-seater state-of-the-art complex, which put to rest the insinuations of detractors that all of the school building projects of the administration were destined to be abandoned in the midstream. The school is one out of the fourteen in its category that are being put in place by the RaufAregbesola administration in the State of Osun. The school building has since been put to use; while other school, building projects initiated by the administration are almost completed / at various stages of completion and almost ready for official commissioning / delivery. The year 2014 have started and ended pretty well indeed! From the start of the year, the hope had been high that more and more in the line-up of public schools being erected in the state shall be officially commissioned and delivered. This hope has not been betrayed during the first quarter of the year. During the month of February, the first in the list of completed elementary schools in the state was officially commissioned and delivered for use. The Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, which official commissioning was held on Tuesday February 18 witnessed massive turnout of residents of Ile-Ife, members of the political class and the entire people of the State of Osun – all of
who were full of joy and prayers for the governor, OgbeniRaufAregbesola and his team. The elementary school is one of the thirteen (13) units of its sort being put in place in the state. The governor and other members of the State Executive Council present at the occasion of official commissioning appeared in the uniform of elementary schools in the state; another initiative of the administration. In his address at the occasion, Governor Aregbesola said: “The ongoing monumental transformation of education in the State of Osun is unstoppable. Nobody can stop us. “Even if we have to step on toes, we shall continue to build a solid future for generations yet unborn. The school is not for Muslims, Christians or traditionalists but rather for the people of the State of Osun. The education of our children must be taken seriously and we must not play pranks with it under any guise to secure the future of our state and society at large” N renewing his affirmation for the turnaround of the education sub-sector of the state, Aregbesola stated that the vision of his administration was to build an educational system that would produce great men and women in the society. In addition to the afore-mentioned data of thirteen (13) elementary school and fourteen (14) middle school building projects, there are still twelve units of high school building projects ongoing in the state. The governor however promised the delivery and official commissioning of all the projects before the end of his administration’s tenure of office. In his graphical analysis conducted at the occasion, Governor Aregbesola made it known that his administration was spending on annual basis a whooping sum of N27.1 Billion on teachers’ salaries and pension, while the Opon Imo project had so far gulped N1.2 Billion. He put the capital expenditure so far on education at N31. 1 Billion. In her earlier speech at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Otunba (Mrs.) Grace TitilayoLaoye-Tomori revealed that the school has tent-five (25) classrooms, with capacity to accommodate one-thousand (1,000) pupils with other modern facilities like two (2) staff common rooms, one (1) office each for the headmaster and assistant headmaster, and a dining room. Others are modern sports field, and other features that make the school able to compete favourably with private schools anywhere in the contemporary Nigeria. She further had the following to say: “The school symbolizes possibilities and that change is inevitable. Despite the fact that some people are
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mischievous about the project, the government is right on top of the situation and we shall continue to work towards better future for our children” Later on, the third in the series of quiz competitions annually held in commemoration of the birthday of the internationally reputed literary icon and Nobel Laurel in Literature, Professor OluwoleAkinwande Soyinka was held, with the State Government of Osun taking the position of a leading light. The year 2013 episode, marking the academic giant’s 79th birthday had the involvement of seventy-nine youths for the finals which were held in the Government House of the State of Osun in Osogbo, the state capital. The aim of the programme transcends merely celebrating the excellence radiated by Soyinka, but raising future stars among our youths; who would project our image in the future; even after we might have been long-gone! HE terrains of public education in the years preceding the advent of the RaufAregbesola administration was far from being attractive or alluring. This is true as all indications pointed to a situation of rot, decay, abandonment and devastation in the sub-sector; so much so that parents and guardians were repelled with fear and disgust from committing their wards to the care and tutelage that that category of schools dispensed. Needless to say, the only category of parents and guardians who were left to the mercy of those schools were those who due to certain limitations imposed by economy or other factors, had no alternative than sending their wards there as a last resort. In other words the segment of the populace who gave patronage to those schools in those dark days comprised those who looked up to God and prayed ceaselessly for deliverance and rescue to come their way some day. In our series last year and in years before, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has devoted lengthy writing to the spate of rot and decay which the sub-sector witnessed during the period under reference. We therefore would not have to subject our numerous readers to the boredom, drudgery and monotony of having to recast the ugly events of those years. We also have, time and time again given details of the poor score sheets of candidates of the state who were produced through the ugly system in public examinations. In honest terms, the performances were not only persistently poor but also abysmally woeful and disheartening. In terms of enrolment figures, the statistics had dwindled drastically. In terms of schools’ physical structures, materials, equipment and textbooks, the scoring was simply nothing to write home about. The quantity and •Continued on page 13
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Towards All-round Excellence Continued from page 12 quality of teaching and non-teaching personnel in those schools had been another point of concern. In most cases, the teachers were not just there. Where they were present in some numbers, it was not usually in the right quality. Recruitment and selection exercises for teachers in those days were fraught with fraud and irregularities, hence, the teachers (so called) were mostly engaged in an attempt to pacify political hangers-on, cronies and boot-lickers. Since the coming on board of the RaufAregbesola administration however, a wave of change, unprecedented and unimaginable – confounding to distracters - has rippled the public education sub-sector of the state. In all ramifications, the sub-sector has been virtually overhauled. Apart from the free, functional and qualitative education package wielded by the administration of OgbeniRaufAdesojiAregbesola in the State of the Virtuous, other components of good service delivery, which could make learning much easier, attractive, effective and efficient have been put in place. Among the multiple “O” programmes initiated by the Government Unusual, the education industry has taken a substantial number. We can easily talk of the O’ Uniform programme under the auspices of which the administration distributed school uniforms and badges free of charge to all students in public schools in accordance with their levels; whether elementary, middle or high school. Not only this, the O’ Meal programme ensures free feeding of pupils in primary school classes one to four on daily basis with nutritious and highly enriched food varieties so as to enhance their intellectual development and prepare them adequately for future challenges. The O’ Calisthenics is a programme in physical cum affective and psychomotor domains. Through it, the government of the day has exposed the students, drawn mostly from the middle school rung of the educational ladder to more productive engagements of their time, talents and latent potentials. The O’ SCHOOLS intervention initiative is an area that is almost of exceeding importance of all. This is so as no meaningful and impactful teaching-learning process can take place in poor physical environment. The State of Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Committee, known for short as O’ SCHOOLS is out to effect the demolition of all existing dangerously dilapidating structures in all our public schools and replacing
such with modern, befitting and more durable ones that can favourably compare with the demands of the Twenty-First Century. We have discussed issues relating to this to detail in some of our earlier editions in this series. We only need to add in passing that “infrastructure” in the context of O’ SCHOOLS mean a wide variety of components which include: a. School buildings as designed and approved; b. External works as designed and approved; c. Landscaping as designed and approved; d. Furniture for students and staff; e. Library, laboratory and workshop equipments; f. Sporting facilities; and g. Any other facility, structure and equipment that may be considered necessary for effective teaching and learning in the schools. Also, by the plan of the O’ SCHOOLS Committee, we realize that the government intended at the initial stage to build and deliver: · 100 elementary schools (2,100 classrooms); · 50 (62?) middle schools; and · 20 high schools N view of limitations imposed by the economic realities on ground, the first phase of the programme could however accommodate the minimum delivery of: · 50 elementary schools; · 33 middle schools; and · Between 10 and 20 high schools As at the end of 2013, the statistics of these schools which were almost ready for official commissioning and use was put at about fifteen (15) elementary schools; thirteen (13) middle schools; and ten (10) high schools. The figures are still counting, as the programme is continuous through the life of the administration. Latter part of last year and early this year marked the official commissioning of the first fruits of the O’ SCHOOLS project and their delivery to their respective intended end-users. The last academic session ended on a glorious note with more and more of the completed schools construction projects being commissioned and put to use, to the glory of God and for the benefit of mankind. First in this regard was the official commissioning of the Salvation Army Middle School, located at the OkeFia / Alekuwodo area of Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun. That was done in September 2013. Second was the
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•A calisthenics display by public schools’ pupils in Osogbo recently.
commissioning in February of 2014 of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife. During the month of March, another ultra-modern school building project in the category of elementary school, the A.U.D. Government Elementary School, Isale-Agbara, Isale-Osun, Osogbo was officially commissioned. More recently, more and more of these projects have been commissioned in Ikirun, Ila, Iwo, Ikire and other parts of the state. It is an event that is certain that the ongoing fourth year anniversary of the administration and the celebrations of the re-inauguration of Ogbeni shall witness the official commissioning of more of these projects. The list is still counting! This rate of completion has put wagging tongues into silence. We have observed through the lifetime of the incumbent administration how our public schools have flourished prolifically with massive employment of trained, qualified, competent and highly experienced teaching personnel. We have also witnessed how the administration has made the teachers in public schools highly motivated by attending promptly to all their needs, not only in terms of salaries and fringe benefits, but also other needs bordering on entry and terminal points as well as elevation of high echelon personnel in the teaching profession to the exalted status of Permanent Secretary. Hence we now have three Tutors-General; one for each Senatorial District of the state. Central to the free education programme of the administration of the day is the free book distribution exercise embarked upon. By this, the sufferings of the masses have been alleviated a great deal through free distribution of exercise. The climax of this is the introduction of the Tablet of Knowledge, known as Opon Imo. This device is one of the most laudable efforts of the Aregbesola administration in the Education Subsector. The Schools Reclassification Programme and Schools Discipline Initiative are other effort made to revive the sector from the horrible state it was in at the take-over time of the administration. We shall now swing forward to give concise consideration to Opon Imo and all that it entails. When the newly-inaugurated administration of OgbeniRaufAregbesola came out with the idea of holding the first-ever State of Osun Education Summit in February 2011, detractors wagged their tongues in outright condemnation of the programme which they considered as sheer waste •Continued on page 14
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Towards All-round Excellence
•Calisthenics displays commemorating 25th Anniversary celebration of the creation of Osun with 4,000 pupils making the above formations (‘AKU ODUN’ and ‘OSUN AT 25’), at Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo, recently. good education free of charge, easier alternative as consisting in lofty courses of action. •Continued from page 14 Further on the issue if textbooks, of time and resources. Today, the courtesy of the quintessential leader saving enormous costs for the state which can be expended on other Aregbesola reasoned that since summit has justified itself; as it has of our time, OgbeniAregbesola. Through the introduction of Opon viable life- changing programmes textbooks are made from wood translated to meaningful lifeimpacting transformation in the Imo, the burden of spending and projects. The governor said that which is obtained from forests Education Sub-sector of the state; enormously on textbooks either by over a period of ten years, the devise cultivated on wide expanses of land; most especially the public schools, to parents or government has been would save government a whooping the introduction of a devise like Opon which the government remains relieved. We remember with sum of about N50.25 billion; were the Imo, which reduces the dependence nostalgia the old good eras of free state to engage in the physical on books, will help in the proprietor and financier. E know for sure that quite education as introduced and purchase of hard copies of textbooks conservation of our forest resources, a number of interesting successfully operated in the defunct for the 17 subjects taught in our hence reducing risks associated with packages has begun to be Western Region by the late sage, public schools, hard copies of 51 environmental degradation. It has been a reasonable argument rolled out as aftermath of the summit, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the audio tutorials, hard copies of JAMB which was chaired by none less a premier of the Region. The same feat and WAEC past questions and from the point of view of OgbeniAregbesola that since a personality like the academic giant was replicated during the Second answers and the rest. Aside these, the Opon Imo device student must have been exposed to and famous Nobel Laurel, Professor Republic with late Chief Bola Ige at Wole Soyinka. Notable among such the helm of affairs as Governor of can be solar-powered. It also has the textbooks from kindergarten, educational rebranding efforts of the the old Oyo State. We also remember capacity to record audio lessons, thus offering him something different at administration which are wielding the good efforts of Chief BisiAkande saving students the trouble of his high school age would do him potent reforms in the education in his days as Governor of the copying notes. It also spares them much benefit. In other words, he should be offered with the kind of more time to learn. industry of the state owing to their present-day State of Osun. NOTHER benefit confirmed learning that brings him in During the entire period under purposeful and faithful for the device is that it conformity with his colleagues and implementation are the O’ Uniform, reference, tuition, textbooks and facilitates the incumbent counterparts in the present world O’ SCHOOLS, O’ Meal and O’ notebooks were entirely free! The Calisthenics; and such others as we free education scheme afforded administration’s free education order through exposure to digitalprogramme through its cost-saving based instruction that makes him have discussed above. The particular many school children especially ground-shaking and epoch-making those from humble socio-economic nature. We would all agree that a ICT-compliant. In Governor Aregbesola’s entrant into the scene is the Tablet background the opportunity of truly qualitative and functional free of Knowledge, known popularly as access to quality, functional education programme is usually a definition, the Opon Imo devise is a education. By the standards of those crowd-puller. The populist nature of first of its kind standalone learning Opon Imo. TheOpon Imo initiative has come, periods, school children were such programme therefore would tablet in the world for self-paced like its earlier-introduced provided with textbooks and require its provider to find means study. It provides three major counterparts to demystify school notebooks free of charge. But the of making learning easier, fast and content categories vis-à-vis e-library learning and make public school standards of the current time place all-reaching within a limited space of virtual classroom, and an integrated learning more attractive; thereby the demand on government to find time. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine test zone. The virtual classroom restoring its old-lost glory, honour, another device which can present is of the assurance that the category contains 63 e-books, sanctity and rectitude. By virtue of volumes of books of different sizes Aregbesola administration has done covering 17 academic subjects for examinations conducted by WAEC, the line-up of these intervention in a very light, easy-to-access gadget, this sufficiently well. The governor has continuously NECO and JAMB as well as nonefforts, it is no longer a dreadful which an average learner can carry event to send a child to public about with much ease and which can emphasized the bold resolve and academic life-enriching subjects such schools. On top of these attractive provide learning anywhere and determination of his administration as History of the Yoruba, Sexuality packages; education in our public anytime without the burden of to focus thrust on the making of the Education, Civic Education, Ifa on total student – so the preparation of Ethics and Morals, Enterprise schools is free, qualitative and carrying bulky bags around. Another advantage of the Opon conducive learning environment, Education, hints and tips on passing functional. What this latter point implies is that a good proportion of Imo is that it saves the government which consists in the construction of SSCE and How to Live a Healthy parents who had been made victims the perennial burden of procuring befitting classrooms and equipping and Happy Life. It was further of coughing out enormous hard- sets of books. According to such with good furniture, shall win revealed by the Governor that this Aregbesola while the priority attention of his section also contains an average of earned resources in order to get their Governor wards educated in private schools; responding to critics that his government. He has never reneged 16 chapters per subject and 823 his promise that his chapters in all, with about 900 or rather who could scarcely afford administration is deemphasizing the on that costly facility for their wards are use of books, he enumerated the administration will not waver or get minutes or 15 hours of audio now afforded the rare privilege of economic benefits of providing derailed from the pursuance of these •To be continued
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voiceovers. In the integrated net zone of the devise, there are more than 40,000 JAMB and WAEC practice questions and answers dating back to about 20 years. It also contains mock tests in more than 51 subject areas, which approximates to 1,220 chapters, with roughly 29,000 questions, referencing about 825 images. Recent revelations from the State of Osun Deputy Governor, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, bare it that the OponImo devise can accommodate update, upgrade, additions and enrichment; especially in line with mew discoveries and changes in the ever-dynamic world. On this note, the tablets are turned in at the end of each academic year to allow for this upgrade and to allow for incoming sets of students to make use of them as some most senior set graduates. However, it is possible for parents who want their wards to have the devise for permanent retention to book copies. HE tablet, as it has turned out, is in design, use and purpose more than a learning devise. It is a revolution that individualizes learning and brings the school to the child. No wonder that Governor Aregbesola said that in the old order, the pupils went to school to study, but that with Opon Imo, they henceforth learn! Opon Imo has also been defined as entailing democratization of learning. This is so, because Opon Imo provides equal access to every child, irrespective of his or her background. Pupils in the remotest village now have access to the same body of knowledge as their counterparts from the most cosmopolitan city. No wonder that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine drew reference to the coincidence of the Opon Imo launch with the June 12 celebration, vis-à-vis the mention above of the democratization aspect
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of the device. We pause to reflect that the annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Elections which was widely, convincingly and overwhelmingly won by the late business mogul, captain of commerce and symbol of the collective cause for democracy, l a t e BashorunMoshoodKasimawoOlawaleAbiola poised monumental set-back to the nation and the development of its segments and institutions. Had the democratic experience of that time been allowed to thrive and materialize, the nation would have advanced well today. This is more so if it is viewed against the back drop that the achievers of today – Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor BabatundeRajiFasola and our own OgbeniRaufAdesojiAregbesola – were parts and parcel of the struggle in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). If our return to democratic governance had started from that time; honestly, we would have gone very far by now. PON Imo, by containing all subjects, is a veritable tool in the making of the rounded student. It was revealed that a science student has access to textbooks on arts and social sciences and vice-versa. We also learnt that there is a business side to the tablet. According to Governor Aregbesola, a factory for the assemblage of computer tablets is already in the pipeline in the State of Osun. The factory will provide jobs for our youths and provide revenue to the government. He said that by that singular move, the foundation is being laid for the making of Osun as the IT hub of the nation. The governor expressed the hope of his administration that Opon Imo would spread to other parts of the nation from the State of Osun. In rounding up his speech at the launch of the devise in June 2013,
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•L.A. Elementary School, Obande, Ede, State of Osun.
OgbeniAregbesola viewed the addition of OponImo to our education as another turning point in the public school system in the State of Osun. He expressed his strong belief that the history was in the making on that day with the official launch of the devise; and that the real significance of the day in the history of education in Osun will be appreciated in the fullness of time. ISTORY was made in June 2013 through the events culminating in the official unveiling of the iPod-like computer devise; customized to demystify learning for students at the senior secondary level of our public school system in the State of Osun. Branded simply as Opon Imo, which translates into Tablet of Knowledge, the devise, a brainchild of the Aregbesola administration had earlier come under severe criticisms from the camp of detractors on many grounds; the last of which was that the programme had been clandestinely launched in Lagos. Earlier, detractors had tonguelashed the project as sheer attempt at wasting the financial fortunes of the state; attempting to deify the oracles by the introduction of what they chose to call OponIfa; and an overall attempt at making the youths of the state tow the path of fetishism. As time advanced, further accusations came that the Opon Imo project sought to deemphasize the use of textbooks; and most recently, critics of the project cried foul that it had been launched in Lagos, rather than the State of Osun for which it was designed and meant. At the end of it all, the administration of the day, under the leadership of OgbeniRaufAregbesola has proven itself to be well above all situations aimed at distracting it as the Opon Imo initiative has eventually seen the light of day. In his state-wide broadcast heralding in the New Year 2014, the
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Governor of the State of Osun, OgbeniRaufAdesojiAregbesola elucidated on the numerous achievements of his administration in the past years. In his speech titled “Reflections on Our Policies and Programmes”, the Governor detailed the achievements, which bordered chiefly on the giant strides recorded in the education industry. While commenting on the whole essence of his aspiration to become the helmsman of the state in the first place, the governor had this to say: “As we begin this great year, I reflect on the last year and even the last three years since the Almighty God, by His grace and mercy, brought me to this seat as your Governor. ERMIT me to say that the only reason why I aspired to be governor was to get an opportunity to improve the lot of the masses of our people. “I know how dehumanizing poverty and lack of opportunities can be. I know how illiteracy can truncate the destiny of a person and a society. “This is why every day our focus as an administration has been (and is) on how to improve the lives of the majority of our people. “My firm belief is that government exists to protect life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, provide an environment for commerce to thrive, for the young and economically deprived to be educated, for the sick who cannot afford medi-care to be taken care of, for the provision of security for all, and for the enforcement of the rule of law and maintenance of law and order. “All of these must be premised on the truth that all men, regardless of means, religion or ethnicity, are created equal by God and must be enabled where they are unable to access the means for decent and humane existence. “The question I ask myself about any policy we propose to make is simple: ‘How will this benefit the poorest in the State of Osun’?”
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To be continued
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OST of us aged fifty years and above will still remember the episode that led to the ban slammed on the song carefully composed and released by the late Hubert Ogunde in the 1960’s; which indeed caused a stir across the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In spite of the poor communication network then, most people in the rural areas of the South West got so acquainted with the song that it became a household orchestra. Although it was not a period when piracy was in vogue, yet, people ubiquitously accepted the song as must-learn-to – sing. There was hardly any song that gained more prominence and currency than Ogunde’s Yoruba Ronu. The Federal Government then; in its folly or wisdom, decided to ban the release, but it had made its impact already before that was done. The younger ones suddenly rose up to know of same song after the unexpected transition to the great beyond of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (R I P) in 1987. There was mass production of the song that youngsters who were oblivious of detailed history of how the song was released and the subsequent ban of same thought it was a new thing in town. Some were then tutored about the artwork that almost threw the country, Nigeria, into a tumult. At that period, the force that prompted the ban had waned, and nobody was audacious to raise any eyebrow because the dead could not be raised for prosecution. The impact of Awo’s departure far outweighs the discontentment that the release metamorphosed. The sleeping dog was allowed to lie and the rest remains history till date. I also have to exercise some consternation of arrest over the resuscitation of what seems to have been forgotten. However, my recent write-up, wherein I eulogized the Federal Government for reintroducing history as a subject or course of study in our education curriculum becomes relevant once again. When people refuse to learn from history, then the same mistake is encouraged to repeat itself. That is why it becomes imperative to remind ourselves about some past occurrences that tended to tear our nation apart before it was clipped to prevent a boomerang. Different scenarios that need be juxtaposed now compel us to reason together must be brought to bear; more so that recently, it was prophesied that Nigeria was to break-up into unimaginable segments. When the earlier agitation against Yoruba marginalization was raised, the military was in power. Under democracy, similar moves may be difficult to effect. The clampdown on Awolowo earlier in our republic was hatched by other sections of the country; with subterranean connivance with some disgruntled elements of Yoruba nation, who felt the political profile of Obafemi Awolowo was too intimidating; and so should be checkmated through persecution and intimidation. The same scenario seems to be playing out in this
Yoruba Ronu: The Reverberating Phrase
By ADEOLU GBOTEMI burnt the zeal of people in participatory democracy. Apart from Ekiti State, where there was serious clampdown on the freewill to choose, there were no remarkable political assassinations as we used to have it in the past. We must therefore, consider it that there is something special about the man Asiwaju; recalling that only few old horses identified with him while the struggle to install a first ever-progressive government at the centre lasted. The likes of Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Ayo Fasanmi stood out; recall that Chief Segun Osoba of Ogun State only came back after the battle had been fought and won. I know we are all aware that the picture painted above is correct. We then need to find out the reason behind the recent gang-up against the man that fought like a lion to dislodge the behemoths that plundered our commonwealth for sixteen years. Agreed, there is bound to be human errors; unless we want to lay claim to non-existent holiness toga, which the only wise God, the Creator of heaven and earth possesses. HE human and fallible elements in us are bound to manifest by and by. On occasions like that, we must weigh the influence of goofing and the positive influence before we arrive at justifiable generalization. We need to be wary of stadium mentality, where every spectator seems to be a good footballer; faulting every mistake of professionals meticulously selected by a coach, who has been hired to do so. We must all realize that where efforts have been staked, attempt will be made to have a say. If a stakeholder has no say, he ceases to be one. This is the right perspective we must view and assess the scenario playing out with the Jagaban. In case of perceived overbearing, which is common with every mortal, advice must come handy. The pranks playing out at the moment, whereby the emergence of some notable allies of Asiwaju, as major players in Buhari administration, is being detached from his influence is ill-conceived and motivated, not only to rubbish the person of Tinubu, but also to cause disaffection in the rank and file of Yoruba people. I wonder where and how a foreign author of Mr. President’s biography got all the junks he packaged in the book to polarize us. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter” is an aphorism that must remind us of the ploy to disunite us as a people. We need to put our hearts together against marginalization. This is not the best of times to engage in unprofitable mud-slinging which will only help our traditional foes to subjugate our prominence as they use to do. It has happened before that a few of us always benefit from such ploys; we must not allow it to happen again. Things that unite us as a people must be encouraged, as against moves aimed at causing disunity, so that together we can be regarded as a force to reckon with in all fronts of our national life. YORUBA RONU!
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•AWOLOWO dispensation; this time around against the political Colossus of modern day Nigeria politics. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is no doubt a formidable force in Nigeria’s politics today. His meticulousness has rebranded Nigeria in such a way that those who erroneously considered themselves as heavyweight politicians succinctly discovered that their statuses have been over-bloated. E may consider one other person a political enigma; the fact that there was an encounter between that person and Asiwaju Tinubu put paid to the fact that we are superior to ourselves is not a matter of wrestling bout. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is very much sought after today; but in terms of political charisma and strategy, Baba Iyabo will willingly doff his hat for Jagaban Borgu. We need to recall that those who have aligned with the North and East in the past from Yorubaland have always planned to rig elections for their allies. Yoruba people have never voted for any candidate of Northern origin enmasse; although results have been written in the past to prove otherwise. That was why each time such fake results were released in the past, they were greeted with mass protest and overt
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displeasure. In 2015 general elections, the true reflection of the voting pattern in Yorubaland was made manifest; and that was why we kept our cool as results tricked in, except for those few places where the black horses in the usual unholy alliance tried to play a fast one. HERE was no much uproar because the effect was highly infinitesimal. We experience relative peace in Yorubaland because by and large, the true political will relatively manifested; courtesy of the former senator and two-term governor of Lagos State. The true manifestation of progressive stance of the Yoruba people came to the fore predominantly during April 2015 general elections; and that remained incontrovertible. Our President, who in the past had tried to taste power as a civilian president three times and had failed to achieve the feat, had severally acknowledged the fact that he owed his emergence as president largely to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We seem to agree with Mr. President’s position because Asiwaju effectively mobilized his people. The man in question had only one vote to cast on each occasion the right beckoned; nevertheless, he it was that worked assiduously with the assistance of his field lieutenants to change the political conflagration that hitherto
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All
correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.